Methods and systems for establishing communication with users based on biometric data

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed herein for establishing communication with users based on biometric data. For example, in response to determining that a user has a particular biometric state, the media guidance application may present an option to contact another user that is associated with that biometric state.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 determining, using control circuitry, a current biometric state of a user based on a measured biometric signal; 
 determining that the current biometric state of the user corresponds to a stored rule which identifies a pre-defined time slot and a pre-defined location; 
 determining that a current time is within the pre-defined time slot; 
 determining that a current location of the user corresponds to the pre-defined location; and 
 in response to determining that the current biometric state corresponds to the stored rule, that the current time is within the pre-defined time slot, and that the current location of the user corresponds to the pre-defined location, disabling functionality of a device associated with the user. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the current biometric state of the user is the user being awake. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the functionality of the device comprises access to a network. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the functionality of the device comprises operation of a media guidance application. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the measured biometric signal is received from a device attached to the user. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the stored rule is based on parental controls entered on a remote device. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the stored rule is set based on one or more predetermined conditions. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a new biometric state of the user based on a new measured biometric signal; 
 determining that the new biometric state of the user does not correspond to the stored rule and, in response, re-enabling functionality of the device. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing options for customizing the stored rule by changing one or more conditions for activating the rule, changing one or more biometric states of the stored rule, changing the pre-defined time slot of the rule, or changing an effect of activating the rule; 
 wherein the stored rule corresponds to a particular user profile corresponding to the device. 
 
     
     
       10. A system comprising:
 sensor circuitry for generating a biometric signal; 
 control circuitry configured to:
 determine a current biometric state of a user based on the generated biometric signal; 
 determine that the current biometric state of the user corresponds to a stored rule which identifies a pre-defined time slot and a pre-defined location; 
 determine that a current time is within the pre-defined time slot; 
 determine that a current location of the user corresponds to the pre-defined location; and 
 
 in response to determining that the current biometric state corresponds to the stored rule, that the current time is within the pre-defined time slot, and that the current location of the user corresponds to the pre-defined location, disable functionality of a device associated with the user. 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the current biometric state of the user is the user being awake. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the functionality of the device comprises access to a network. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the functionality of the device comprises operation of a media guidance application. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the generated biometric signal is received from a device attached to the user. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the stored rule is based on parental controls entered on a remote device. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the stored rule is set based on one or more predetermined conditions. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 determine a new biometric state of the user based on a new measured biometric signal; 
 determine that the new biometric state of the user does not correspond to the stored rule and, in response, re-enabling functionality of the device. 
 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 provide options for customizing the stored rule by changing one or more conditions for activating the rule, changing one or more biometric states of the stored rule, changing the pre-defined time slot of the rule, or changing an effect of activating the rule; 
 wherein the stored rule corresponds to a particular user profile corresponding to the device.